1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Zoot Suit. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
In the 1940s, the Chicano community in Los Angeles was only starting to gain strength in terms of numbers as well as economic and political power. Tensions were high because the white community saw Chicanos as thugs. Cases of discrimination against Chicanos on behalf of law enforcement and the criminal justice system were commonplace. Zoot suiters wore a specific type of dress and often lived up to the reputation of being in gangs. The play follows the story of the Sleepy Lagoon case and the subsequent Zoot Suit riots. It specifically follows Henry Leyvas, the leader of the 38th street gang.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? The intrusion occurs after the murder of Jose Diaz when the police arrest the members of the 38th street gang.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This play takes place during WWII at a time when patriotism and nationalism were at an all time high. Any action deemed as unpatriotic was unacceptable per societal norms. Zoot suits were perceived to be unpatriotic because they used materials that were being rationed for the war effort. At this time, many minority groups experienced prejudice (Japanese Americans in internment camps).
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrustion.)
Will the 38th street gang get justice?
Will the murder of Jose Diaz ever be solved?
Will the Latinx community ever be accepted into the rest of American society?
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a charcter. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Henry is in conflict with a society that does not accept him or his culture. This rejection takes the form of extreme prejudice and racism.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one.
One of the most theatrical moments occurs when the members of the 38th street gang are arrested by the police. The subsequent Zoot suit riots are also important theatrical moments.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The Zoot Suit itself identifies the 38th street gang and is a key image of the Pachuco. The other important image is that of the boys being kept from cutting their hair in order to further identify them as "unkept criminals." The newspaper is also an important image in that it conveys the bias of the media coverage of the case.,
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit.
Immigration
Prejudice
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit? The main characters in this show are in Henry's family. However, his gang also serves the role of a family. Ultimately, family is an important aspect of Latinx culture and this play conveys the idea that as Latinx culture is interwoven with American culture, family will become more important.
In the 1940s, the Chicano community in Los Angeles was only starting to gain strength in terms of numbers as well as economic and political power. Tensions were high because the white community saw Chicanos as thugs. Cases of discrimination against Chicanos on behalf of law enforcement and the criminal justice system were commonplace. Zoot suiters wore a specific type of dress and often lived up to the reputation of being in gangs. The play follows the story of the Sleepy Lagoon case and the subsequent Zoot Suit riots. It specifically follows Henry Leyvas, the leader of the 38th street gang.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? The intrusion occurs after the murder of Jose Diaz when the police arrest the members of the 38th street gang.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This play takes place during WWII at a time when patriotism and nationalism were at an all time high. Any action deemed as unpatriotic was unacceptable per societal norms. Zoot suits were perceived to be unpatriotic because they used materials that were being rationed for the war effort. At this time, many minority groups experienced prejudice (Japanese Americans in internment camps).
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrustion.)
Will the 38th street gang get justice?
Will the murder of Jose Diaz ever be solved?
Will the Latinx community ever be accepted into the rest of American society?
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a charcter. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Henry is in conflict with a society that does not accept him or his culture. This rejection takes the form of extreme prejudice and racism.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one.
One of the most theatrical moments occurs when the members of the 38th street gang are arrested by the police. The subsequent Zoot suit riots are also important theatrical moments.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The Zoot Suit itself identifies the 38th street gang and is a key image of the Pachuco. The other important image is that of the boys being kept from cutting their hair in order to further identify them as "unkept criminals." The newspaper is also an important image in that it conveys the bias of the media coverage of the case.,
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit.
Immigration
Prejudice
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit? The main characters in this show are in Henry's family. However, his gang also serves the role of a family. Ultimately, family is an important aspect of Latinx culture and this play conveys the idea that as Latinx culture is interwoven with American culture, family will become more important.